Basket-ball goal



Nov. 24, 1,563,243

E. K. VAN .GORDEN BASKET BALL GOAL Filed April 30, 1925 Patented Nov.1925i.

EDWABD K. VAN GOBDEN, F I-IORSEI-IEADS, NEW YORK.

BASKET-BALL GOAL.

Application filed. April -30, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD K. VAN Gonnnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and residing at Horseheads, county of Ghemung, State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Basket- BallGoals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to basketball goals, and has for its object theproduction of a novel form of goal which possesses unusual strength,rigidity, lightness, neatness, and ease of attachment.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved goal; and y Figure 2 is atop plan view thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like referencecharacters denote like parts throughout the severalviews thereof, 10represents the ring or net supporting portion of the goal. The ring 10is circular and is preferably bent to shape from a single piece ofmetal, such as a flat. bar of iron or steel, At the back of the ring theends of the metal bar of which it is formed are brought together andbent to form a rearwardly extending arm 11, comprising two closelyadjacent parallel arms 12. The free ends of the arms 12 are bentoutwardly to form a pair of oppositely directed supported feet 13 atright angles thereto. Each foot 13 is preferably forked at its outerend, as shown, forming two branches 14, each of which is provided with ahole 15 thru which a suitable bolt or screw may be passed to fasten thegoal to the con ventional backboard. This construction affords a largersupportin surface, and. permits wider spacing of the fastening means.

Fastening means passing thru the holes 15 would be sufficient to holdthe goal rigid against blows from the side, but they would not be spacedfar enough apart vertically to withstand severe vertical blows. For thisreason a vertically extending supporting bracket 16 is preferablyemployed, which may be made of flat metal stock and be substantiallyT-shaped, having a stem 17 and a head 18. The stem 17 may be securedbetween the arms 12 by means of bolts 19, and should be in such positionthat the outer Serial No. 27,089.

edge of the head 18 is in the same plane as the outer surface of thefeet 13, or, in other words, in the plane of the backboard. Each end ofthe head 18 has a widened portion 20, which may be made by twisting themetal as shown. A hole 21 is provided in each portion 20 for the passageof additional fastening bolts or screws. The stem 17 of the T-shapedbracket 16 is preferably made wider than the arms 12 and projects abovethe top edge of the arms, as is clearly shown in Figure 1. The purposeof this feature is to prevent the ball'from lodging on the arms and theside braces to be presently described. These side braces are at the samelevel as the arms 12, and unless the stem 17 is raised as described, theball may come to rest thereon, consequently delaying the game until theball can be dislodged.

The ring 10 is still further strengthened and supported by a pair ofside braces 22. Each brace 22 has at one end an arcuate portion 23riveted to the outer periphery of the ring, and at the other end a flatportion 24 bent at an obtuse angle to the brace and riveted to a foot12. V

A compact structure is thus obtained which has all the advantagesenumerated above, and which will readily withstand the roughest usage.It will be observed that the feet 13 are integral with the ring 10. andthat the side braces 22 furnish an additional connection between thering and the feet. The T-shaped bracket 16 provides additional points ofconnection to the backboard widely spaced from the supporting feet andespecially adapted to withstand vertical stress. lit, will be noted alsothat sharp bends of the metal forming the goal arecarefully avoided andthat all corners are rounded to prevent breaking the grain of the ironor steel. The entire goal is preferably constructed of flat metal barswhich are assembled in such a way that the strain is borne edgewise uponthem.

Many changes or alterations might be made in the structure abovedescribed with out affecting the spirit of my invention, and I desire tobe limited. therefore, only by the prior art and the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is: I

1. In a basketball goal, in combination, a

ring, an arm secured to said ring, a supporting foot secured to saidarm, and a brace secured at one end to said ring and at the other end tosaid foot.

2. I11 a basketball goal, in combination, ring having an integral armextending therefrom, a supporting foot secured to said arm at a rightangle thereto, and a brace secured at one end to said ring and at theother end to said foot.

3. In a basketball goal, in combination, a ring having an integral armextending therefrom. a plurality of supporting feet integral with saidarm and arranged at a right angle thereto, and a plurality of bracessecured at one end to said ring and at the other end to one of saidfeet.

l. In a basketball goal, in combination, a ring terminating in a pair ofclosely adjacent parallel arms, supporting feet on said arms, and a pairof braces secured at one end to said ring and at the other end to one ofsaid feet.

5. In a basketball goal, in combination, a ring having its ends bentrearwardly to form a pair of closely adjacent parallel arms, the ends ofsaid arms being bent outwardly to form a pair of oppositely directedsupporting feet at a right angle thereto, and a pair of side bracessecured at one end to said ring and at the other end to one of saidfeet.

6. In a basketball goal, in combination, a ring, an arm secured to saidring, a supporting foot secured to said arm at a right angle thereto,and a T-shaped supporting bracket having its stem secured to said armand its head extending at a right angle to both said arm and said foot.

7. In a basketball goal, in combination, a ring terminating in a pair ofparallel arms, supporting feet on said arms, and a T-shaped supportingbracket having its stem secured between said arms and its head in theplane of said supporting feet.

8. In a basketball goal in combination, a ring terminating in a pair ofparallel arms, supporting feet on said arms, side braces secured at oneend to said ring and at the other end to one of said feet, and aT-shaped supporting bracket having its stem secured between said armsand its head in the plane of said feet.

9. In a basketball goal, in combination. a ring, a pair of closelyadjacent parallel arms integral with said ring, a supporting footintegral with each of said arms and at a right angle thereto, said feetextending in opposite directions, a T-sha-ped supporting bracket havingits stem secured between said arms and its head in the plane of saidfeet and at right angles thereto, and a pair of side braces each securedat one end to said ring and at the other end to one of said feet.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 8 in which the upper edge of thestem of said T-shaped bracket is at a higher level than said arms andsaid side braces, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

EDIVARD K. VAN GORDEN

